Richard Seddon, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Richard Seddon

15th and longest-serving Prime Minister of New Zealand

Date of Birth: 22-Jun-1845

Place of Birth: Eccleston, St Helens, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 10-Jun-1906

Profession: politician

Nationality: New Zealand

Zodiac Sign: Cancer


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About Richard Seddon

  • Richard John Seddon (22 June 1845 – 10 June 1906) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 15th Premier (Prime Minister) of New Zealand from 1893 until his death. Seddon was born in Eccleston, Lancashire, England.
  • He arrived in New Zealand in 1866 to join an uncle in the West Coast goldfields.
  • His prominence in local politics gained him a seat in the House of Representatives in 1879.
  • Seddon became a key member of the Liberal Party under the leadership of John Ballance.
  • When the Liberal Government came to power in 1891 Seddon was appointed to several portfolios, including Minister of Public Works. Seddon succeeded to the leadership of the Liberal Party following Ballance's death in 1893, inheriting a bill for women's suffrage, which was passed the same year.
  • Seddon's government achieved many social and economic changes, such as the introduction of old age pensions.
  • It also purchased vast amounts of land from the Maori.
  • An imperialist in foreign policy, his attempt to incorporate Fiji into New Zealand failed, but he successfully annexed the Cook Islands in 1901.
  • Seddon's government supported Britain with troops in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) and supported preferential trade between British colonies.
  • Seddon was the second New Zealand head of government to die in office (after his predecessor, Ballance). In office for thirteen years, Seddon is to date New Zealand's longest-serving head of government.
  • Sometimes derisively known as "King Dick" for his autocratic style, he has nonetheless been lauded as one of the greatest, most influential, and most widely known politicians in New Zealand history.

Read more at Wikipedia

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